Orbital Decompression
Orbital Decompression is a type of surgery that can be done for removing or thinning various safe orbital walls and orbital fat to expand the eye socket, allowing the eyeball to settle back.
Some facts about Orbital Decompression:
- The orbit contains the eye, orbital fat, extra ocular muscles and other neural and vascular tissues.
- Generally, the orbital volume can be expanded by removal of one or more portions of bone, or orbital walls by Orbital Decompression surgery.
- This type of surgery can be recommended by an oculofacial plastic surgeon to treat various conditions.
- Potential damage to the eye or optic nerve due to proptosis or compression on the optic nerve can cause orbital decompression.
- Orbital decompression can be done for thyroid eye disease, congenital shallow orbits, relative maxilla hypoplasia, orbital tumors, and orbital hemorrhage.
- The bulgy appearance of the eyes can be reduced by removing orbital fat and bone by orbital decompression.
- Compressive optic neuropathy is a rare indication for orbital decompression.
- The symptoms of bulging of the eyes, inability to close eyes completely, dry eye, double vision, increased orbital pressure caused by muscle swelling and disfigurement can be reduced and further vision loss can be prevented by orbital decompression surgery.
- More space in the eye socket is created by this surgery to allow the eyes to move back to a normal position.
Preparation for Orbital Decompression:
- A CT scan will be done before surgery to have a picture of the areas that will be operated on during surgery.
- Several factors such as the thickness of the bones around your eye socket will be checked by using the images of CT scan.
- A complete eye exam will also be conducted including taking measurements of the extent of eye protrusion.
- Some blood test and an ECG will be done before surgery.
- The risks and benefits of the surgery will be discussed by your doctor before surgery.
- Typically, orbital decompression is performed as an outpatient procedure. But sometimes patients may need observation and have to spend one night in the hospital.
- Medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) should be before and after surgery as these medications may increase bleeding.
- Stop smoking if you smoke as smoking can increase your risk of having problems during and after surgery and also can slow the healing process.
- You should not eat or drink anything after midnight, the night before surgery.
Procedure for Orbital Decompression:
- Usually, orbital decompression is performed under general anesthesia.
- An incision will be made through your upper eyelid crease or through your caruncle which is at the medial inner corner of your eye.
- Part of the bone between the eye and nose and the part of bone that forms the outer wall of the socket will be carefully removed by your doctor.
- Sometimes, part of the bone under the eye will also be removed.
- The thin lining that covers the eye (periorbita) is exposed once the bone is removed.
- Small cuts in the lining will be made by the doctor which allows the fat and the muscle surrounding the eye to expand into the space created by the removal of bone.
- Some fats will also be removed carefully.
